Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-09-03

bniS quiet SlcK.rOOm, Wn6fe only Two
short hours before the doctor had
told his patient how nearly his course
was run, and he, with dying mans
restlessness, had wished to call Dor
othy his wife before the feeble breath
futtered out and was still.
1t is summertime out of doors,
and as the solemn words binding
them together are uttered, it is sum-
mer in their hearts, with the warmth
and glow of it's veriest nOontide.-
AT most, now, few short hours lie
between him and death; SO they
have gone away, those others, leav-
ing the husband and wife alone, that
In those last hours the dying bit of
romance may glow and brighten,
blossoming again as in the years
gone by.
They are not young, not even mid
die aged. Time, in their hearts, has
stood still, as he ever does to those
who love. To each other they must
needs be always young, but to out.
siders-to the children Of the friends
Of their yonth they are quite an
elderly couple. People smiled when
they spoke of the engagement. 1t
was one of those things of such
long standing it seemed impossible
for change to come. Jasper was
never over strong, and although will
ing enough to work, somehow had
always been notwithstanding
he took hold of seemed to succeed.
So time flew by on his noiseless
wings, leaving, in place Of the girls
bright looks, the woman's sweet
face. Only to Jasper it never chang
ed-never a line altered. To the
people of the town Dorothy was
grown an old maid, with a pleasant
face and helpful hands, that made
Others wish for her in time of trouble
or distress.
Not long before Jasper had heard
OF work at a distance, so had gone,
toiling on day after day, tasking
himself beyond his strength, until
one morning he could not rise from
the bed; and when the doctor came
he looked serious, and inquired if
there were no friends who could come
aud nurse him. Friendsf One by
one, as he thought them over, he re-
allied that they had stepped out of
life to make homes and new ties of
their own. 1t had been hard to
stand by as success seemed to come
so easily to others. No. There
we're no friends-only Dorothy out
OF all the world was left. So the
doctor telegraphed her to come
quickly, not waiting to write, for his
patient was dying. There was no
constitution-no strength loft to
bear the strain of the fever.
Such a shock as it had been to
Dorothy; and even when she step
ped from the tram, late in the after
noon, the sweet fice looked white
and frightened, and her hands shook
little as she touched the doctors
sleeve, to ask that question her
quiyering lips had lost their power
to form.
Three. four days had gone by since
then and he was alive still--only
alive though, for there was no power
left in the wasted arms to fold them
selves about the faithful heart which
never for moment in all these years
had wavered in its allegiance.
After all. death had been kinder
than life, seeing how it had given
that which in health had been
denied. Poor soul, it was hard to
die now-to 60 away from the wife's
warm, loving touch, and, feeling the
icy hand of death grasp his, so out
with him into the darkness.
Jasper's yearning shines forth
from the weary, feverish eyes, and
Dorothy's heart is slowly breaking,
as, gazing down, she realizes how
powerless now is human skill.
Tenderly, carefully, she lifts her
husbands head until it lies upon her
bosom, within the circle of her arms !;
then, with her cheek TO his she softly
speaks, her low, sweet voice thrill
ing and vibrating with the might Of
that love which holds them both,
until the great unrest passes away
and peace comes.
The window is wide open, and as
the f1uttering white curtains, stirred
by the breeze, sway back and forth,
they seem like white-winged angels
beckoning on to the sunset glories of
the clouds. The west is one gorge
Gus flame of gold, a great shining
pathway into the sky.
Outside the window suddenly
there comes a sound, bnrst OF
music, as some straying bird lights
on the tree-tops and sways the thy
branch with his song.
Dorothy, love, it is our wedding
noroI, uorb hour fha r,nc;o roIlo